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Precision farming technologies (PFTs) can have a significant impact on reducing the dependency on plant protection products (PPP) for crop protection. PFTs for crop protection comprises an extensive suite of digital solutions that can be used to predict, detect, and control pests. In this paper, we report the results of a systematic literature meta-analysis to map PFTs in relation to crop protection and identify trends and gaps in the use of these technologies in order for them to be easily adopted by farmers. In total, 239 different research articles were assessed in terms of sensor, platform, crop, pest, pest management stage, and impact type. The majority of research articles focused on arable crops and on weed management. The identified PFTs can achieve up to 97 % savings in herbicides, reduce the area that needs insecticide application by up to 70 %, and reduce weed densities by 89 %. In the future, high resolutions images and proximal sensing with heterogeneous robotic systems is expected to make pest detection and control more efficient.

Although precision farming technologies (PFTs) have the ability to reduce the use of pesticides, delivering on this potential relies on the adoption of PFTs by the farming community. With small and medium-sized farmers representing more than 95% of the total number of farmers while cultivating less than 30% of the total cultivated area globally, and presenting a low adoption rate of PFTs, their adoption of PFTs becomes key to understand the global potential of these technologies. In this paper we report an expert knowledge elicitation of the main aspects of PFTs adoption by small and medium-sized farmers covering the perceived usefulness for their farms, the main barriers for adoption and the role of agricultural institutions and policies in overcoming these. Data were obtained via an online survey which was answered by 175 agricultural experts from around the globe. From the analysis of the responses, we can conclude that the usefulness of PFTs are crop and technology specific. Nearly all respondents considered the lack of technical support to be the most important limiting factor for the adoption of PFTs and identified farmers who are already adopters of PFTs and farmer cooperatives as the most promising agents for disseminating this support and increasing adoption by other farmers. Provision of incentives to lower investment costs together with advisory services were the most important policy interventions identified by respondents to foster the adoption of PFTs by small and medium-sized farmers. With regards to the way PFTs would be implemented in practice, most respondents believed that the PFTs will be purchased as a service from private companies by small and medium-sized farmers. Finally, future research is needed to study the impact of policies on the adoption of PFTs for crop protection in order to identify optimized policy pathways to enhance their adoption by small and medium-sized farmers.

Irreducible dislocation of the radial head is an extremely rare lesion, especially in an adult patient. We present a case of diaphyseal radius fracture associated with a posterior elbow dislocation and an irreducible radial head dislocation. After closed reduction of the elbow, we performed open reduction and ostheosynthesis of the radius, and the radial head remained irreducible. We finally found, surrounding the radius, the interposition of the insertion of the biceps, and, after extracting it, we performed the correct reduction of the radial head. Six months after the surgery, the patient presented a full articular balance, with no pain. We have not found any similar case in the literature.

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma is an uncommon condition and a neurological emergency. The clinical presentation of this type of hematoma is very variable, ranging from a backache up to a quadriplegia, according to the severity and the site of compression. Here, we discuss the clinical case of a 71-year-old patient with heart problems, under previous treatment with acenocumarol, that suffered a spontaneous epidural hematoma. The patient, previously asymptomatic, presented, sudden cervical pain when he bent over, followed by weakness in the lower and the upper limbs. Due to the clinical suspicion, an emergency MRI was performed, showing an epidural hematoma extending from C4 to T8. Early diagnosis and decompressive treatment are mandatory to minimize permanent neurological damage.

Highlights • Current adopters of precision agriculture are divergent from current non-adopters. • First adopters are influenced by economic and informational interventions. • Increasing adoption is constrained by scepticism towards economic returns. • EU agricultural policy does not recognise complexity across domains to enable uptake. Abstract Precision agriculture technologies (PATs) offer an approach to arable systems which both enhance productivity and minimise environmental harm. Despite expected economic gains uptake by farmers has been low. This paper explores the intended adoption of PATs through a survey of 971 farmers growing wheat, potato and cotton in five European countries. We apply a count data modelling framework to accommodate the inherent structural differences between the current adopters and non-adopters of PATs. This is augmented by qualitative analysis of the main thematic reasons for intended uptake. Results indicate non-adopters have more belief in their knowledge of field topology and are generally older than current adopters. Those non-adopters intending to adopt PATs in the future are more favourable to a wider range of incentives than current adopters. Attitudinal differences towards the economic certainty of investment and payback periods also emerge. The results indicate that a gradient of adoption is occurring within European arable farming systems which may lead to inequalities in technology access. Recognition of these differences at policy level could lead to cost-effective interventions which maximise uptake, generate returns to candidate farmers and meet policy desires for sustainable agricultural production in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Advisors are found to be influencers of PATs adoption. • Increased PAT adoption requires positive belief in a return by the farmer. • Information interventions may be more successful than fiscal interventions. Abstract Precision agricultural technologies (PATs) allow more detailed management of in-field variability. Policy and advisory communities have championed PATs as a route to preserving natural capital whilst increasing productivity from agricultural land. A range of PATs are currently available for the agricultural producer but uptake varies by the type of technology and region. Whereas most studies on uptake have focused on US or Australia we empirically examine uptake of machine guidance (MG) and variable rate nitrogen technologies (VRNT) within European farming systems. Using primary information from 971 arable crop growers across five countries: Belgium, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and the UK, a multilevel random intercept regression estimated a) the differences between adoption and non-adoption and b) the differences between VRNT and MG adoption. We find, aside from size and income differences, which reflect the economic cost barrier to adoption, an attitudinal difference, in terms of optimism towards the technology's economic return leading to more probability of uptake. Moreover innovative and information seeking behaviour also proved significant when upgrading from machine guidance to variable rate technologies. Subsidy and taxation were considered positive drivers of uptake within the community. However, results suggest that more indirect interventions, such as informational support to counteract industry bias, and demonstration to prove the viability of economic return may be effective at meeting land manager and policy expectations towards PATs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Although rare, fractures of ceramic components are difficult to revise, mainly due to the presence of residual ceramic debris that can cause catastrophic wear of the replacement components. Modern ceramic-on-ceramic bearings are suggested to improve outcomes of revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) for ceramic fractures. However, there are few published reports of mid-term outcomes of revision THA using ceramic-on-ceramic bearings. We evaluated clinical and radiographic outcomes of 10 patients who received ceramic-on-ceramic bearings during revision THA for ceramic fractures. Methods: All patients but one received fourth-generation Biolox Delta bearings. Clinical evaluation was performed using the Harris hip score at latest follow-up, and all patients received a radiographic evaluation to analyze the fixation of the acetabular cup and of the femoral stem. Osteolytic lesions and the presence of ceramic debris were noted. Results: After a mean follow-up of 8.0 years, there were no complications or implant failures, and all patients reported satisfaction with their implant. The average Harris hip score was 90.6. There was neither osteolysis nor loosening, but despite our extensive synovial debridement, ceramic debris was noted in the radiographs of five patients (50%). Conclusion: We report excellent mid-term outcomes, with no implant failures after eight years despite ceramic debris being found in a significant proportion of patients. We conclude that modern ceramic-on-ceramic bearings are an advantageous option for the revision of THA due to the fracture of initial ceramic components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Médica del Centro is the property of Hospital Provincial Universitario Clinico Quirurgico Arnaldo Milian Castro and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Ortopédica Mexicana is the property of Sociedad Mexicana de Ortopedia, AC and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim: The ideal route of tranexamic acid (TXA) administration in total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains controversial. This study aims to identify the optima route of TXA administration in THA or TKA., Methods: PUBMED, EMBASE, MEDLINE and CENTRAL database were systematically searched until 4 August 2021 for randomised studies that compared intravenous (IV) or intra-articular (IA) administration of TXA in THA or TKA., Results: Sixty-seven studies enrolling 8335 patients (IA: 4162; IV: 4173) were eligible for quantitative and qualitative analysis. Comparable results were demonstrated in the incidence of venous thromboembolisation (OR:0.96, p = 0.84), total blood loss (MD: - 9.05, p = 0.36), drain output (MD: - 7.36, p = 0.54), hidden blood loss (MD: - 6.85, p = 0.47), postoperative haemoglobin level (MD: 0.01, p = 0.91), haemoglobin drop (MD: - 0.10, p = 0.22), blood transfusion rate (OR: 0.99, p = 0.87), total adverse events (OR: 1.12, p = 0.28), postoperative range of motion (MD: 1.08, p = 0.36), postoperative VAS pain score (MD: 0.13, p = 0.24) and postoperative D-dimer level (MD: 0.61, p = 0.64). IV route of TXA administration was associated with significantly longer length of hospital stay compared to IA route of administration (MD: - 0.22, p = 0.01)., Conclusion: In this meta-analysis, both IV and IA route of TXA administration were equally effective in managing blood loss and postoperative outcomes in lower limb joints arthroplasty., Level of Evidence: Level 1. PROSPERO Registration CRD42021271355., (© 2022. Crown.)

Wear particles generated by hip and knee arthroplasties disseminate to the liver and spleen with the highest concentrations observed in subjects who have had a failed arthroplasty. We asked to what extent metallic particles could also disseminate to remote hematopoietic bone marrow. Cored samples of red marrow from the axial skeleton and proximal humerus were obtained postmortem from four males and two females aged 79–92 years. Seven to seventeen years prior to their demise, each subject had undergone successful revision of their arthroplasty for mechanical failure in which an unintended wear condition had generated a large volume of metal particles. The marrow samples were analyzed using stained histological sections and energy dispersive X‐ray analysis. Intracellular metal alloy particles were detected in the bone marrow of the cranium, proximal humerus, sternum, ribs, lumbar vertebrae, and the iliac crest. The components previously revised for mechanical failure were confirmed to be the predominant source of the disseminated wear debris. Particles of either Ti, Ti6Al4V, CoCrMo, FeCrNi alloys, or BaSO4 were identified in 24 of the 25 marrow samples examined. The particles ranged in size from 50 nm (the limit of resolution of our technique) to 6 μm. Metallic wear particles generated by hip and knee arthroplasties can disseminate widely to hematopoietic bone marrow throughout the axial skeleton and proximal humerus, especially in cases with a history of severe wear. The hematopoietic microenvironment is potentially sensitive to metallic degradation products. However, actual medical sequelae from disseminated wear debris is a rare occurrence. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 1930–1936, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Surgery is the property of CMA Impact Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research / Zhongguo Zuzhi Gongcheng Yanjiu is the property of Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The application of patient blood management (PBM) combined with tranexamic acid administration (TXA) results in decreased total blood loss volume (TVB) and transfusions in total hip replacements (THRs). Dosages, timing, and routes of administration of TXA are still under debate as all these aspects, as well as interpatient variations, may affect the efficacy of the protocol. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of timing and route of administration of TXA in combination with PBM by reducing the TBV following THR surgery. Consecutive primary uncemented THRs operated by a single surgical and anaesthetic team had the data prospectively collected and then retrospectively studied. Five treatment groups were formed, reflecting the progressive evolution of our protocol. Group 1 included patients managed with PBM alone (preoperative erythrocyte mass optimisation to at least 14 g/dL haemoglobin (Hb), hypotensive spinal anaesthesia and restrictive red blood cell transfusion criteria). Group 2 included patients with PBM and topical 3 g TXA diluted in normal saline to a total volume of 50 mL. Group 3 were patients with PBM and an IV dose of 20 mg/kg TXA at induction, followed by 20 mg/kg TXA as a continuous infusion for the duration of the operation. Group 4 consisted of patients managed as per Group 3 plus another 20 mg/kg TXA at three-hour post-procedure. Group 5 (combined): PBM and IV TXA as per Group 4 and topical TXA as per Group 2. A generalised linear model with the treatment group as an independent variable was modelled, using TBV as the dependent variable. The transfusion rate for all groups was 0%. TBV at 24 h, oscillated from 613.5 ± 337.63 mL in Group 1 to 376.29 ± 135.0 mL in Group 5. TBV at 48 h oscillated from 738.3 ± 367.3 mL (PBM group) to 434 ± 155.2 mL (PBM + combined group). The multivariate regression model confirmed a significant decrease of TBV in all groups with TXA compared with the PBM-only group. Overweight and preoperative Hb were confirmed to significantly influence TBV. The optimal regime to achieve the least TBV and a transfusion rate of 0% requires PBM and one loading 20 mg/kg dose of TXA, followed by continuous infusion of 20 mg/kg for the duration of the operation in uncemented THRs. Additional doses of TXA did not add a clear benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]